Receptacle closure



4Allg- 19, 1947- n A. L. sco'rT RECEPT-AULE CLOSURE Filed June 3, 1944 @www Patented Aug. 19, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in stoppers for fluid-containing receptacles, and has for its primary object the provision of an improved receptacle stopper or closure which, when positioned in the fluid outlet of an associated receptacle, will serve effectively to seal the outlet against the ingress or egressfof fluid into and out of said receptacle, so that the contents of the latter may be more fully protected against loss, contamination or undue change in their physical condition.

t is another obj ect of the invention to provide a receptacle stopper or closure composed of a yieldable, pressure deformable and expansible material, such as natural or synthetic rubber, and wherein the interior of the closure is of hollow construction having a gaseous fluid hermetically sealed therein, the construction of the stopper or closure being such that when lthe same is inserted in the fluid outlet of an associated receptacle, manual pressure applied to the outer portion of the stopper or closure servesto deform the same locally to cause the gaseous uid sealed therein to exert an expanding force on the receptacle outlet walls, the force created being of such character as to bring the deformable walls of the closure or stopper into sealing engagement with the adjacent walls of the receptacle outlet.

It is a further object of the invention to pro- Vide a receptacle closure of the type indicated wherein mechanical means is provided within the hollow interior of the stopper or closure for the purpose of maintaining the same in its deformed state when operatively inserted in the outlet of a receptacle, said means serving to maintain the internal gaseous fluid under pressure while the stopper or closure is locally depressed or collapsed, said means, however, being of such charactor that upon the application of properly directed manual forces, the said pressure-retaining means may be released, allowing the walls of the closure through their inherent resiliency to expand to normal formation, whereby through the resultant increase in the internal volumetric proportions of the stop-per or closure to permit the gaseous fluid therein to expand and reduce the pressure exerted thereby on the outer walls of the stopper or closure, thus allowing the latter to be withdrawn with facility from the outlet of the associated receptacle.

lt is another object of the invention to provide an improved stopper or closure of the character set forth, characterized by its structural simplicity, efficiency in its intended capacity, low manufacturing costs and its generally improved features of construction and operation over prior devices adapted for similar purposes.

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional View taken through the improved receptacle closure or stopper forming the present invention, and disclosing the same in its normal condition;

Fig. 2 is a similar view disclosing the closure or stopper when inserted in the fluid outlet of an associated receptacle, and illustrating the same in its deformed state for sealing the outlet against fluid passage;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the stopper or closure removed from the receptacle;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line IV--IV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the studretaining pins;

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the toothed stud;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the retaining disk.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

the numeral 5 designates my improved receptacle l stopper or closure in its entirety. The same oomprises a body E formed from a resilient, pressure deformable and yieldable material such as vulcanized natural rubber or one of the so-called synthetic rubbers. In its process of manufacture, the body 5 is formed in two parts; a lower half and an upper half, which are vulcanized together along the horizontal plane defined by the disk 23. The lower half of the body is formed to include an outer cylindrical wall which is adapted for insertion in the fluid outlet of a fluid-Containing receptacle iii. The wall 8 is spaced, as at il, from an internal upstanding core l2, and the center of the core is formed with a socket I3. The lower part of the body may be formed with a conical depression I4.

The upper half of the body 5, during its manun facture, has incorporated therein, a vertically and axially disposed and usually metallic stud l5, the lower portion of which extends loosely into the socket i3. The sides of the stud l5 are provided with serrations or teeth ll. Cooperative with the stud l5 are diagonally and angularly extending pins Il', the headed ends of which being embedded in the upper semcircular portion of the body 6 adjacent to finger-engaging enlargements I8 formed thereon. The inner ends of the pins Il extend around the flat sides ofthe stud i5 and terminate in laterally bent portions I9, which normally engage with the serrated or toothed sur- 3 faces I5 provided on the opposite sides of the shank of the stud I5.

In the process of manufacturing the stopper, a flat metallic retaining disk is positioned therein and held against rotation by having its peripheral edge notched as at 2I for the reception of a lug or other integral enlargement forming a part of the stopper body. The disk is punched or otherwise formed to provide a pair of guide lugs 22 which receive the inner ends of the pins I'l and maintain the same in engagement with the shank of the stud I5, confining the pins for movement in definite planes. Centrally, the disk has an opening through which the shank of the stud passes freely. Also contiguous to this central opening, the material of the disk is displaced downwardly as at 23 to provide clearance for the inner ends of the pins I'I when the same are forced inwardly to release the stud.

In inserting the stopper or closure into the fluid outlet of a receptacle, the same is grasped by the ngers of the operator and inwardly directed pressure is applied to the enlargements I8. The pressure is of such order as to deform the upper portion of the body 6 in the region of the pins IT, so that the laterally bent ends I9 of said pins will be removed from engagement with the teeth I 6 of the stud I5. Then by applying nger pressure to the upper portion of the body immediately over the stud I5, the upper portion of said body is depressed or partially collapsed, with the result that air in the internal chamber 24, provided in the upper portion of the body,` is displaced and forced under pressure into the space I I' to expand the walls 8, or to exert an expanding pressure thereon, causing said walls to engage closely and in a fluid-sealing manner the wall surfaces of the receptacle outlet '9. To hold this pressure, finger pressure on the enlargements I8 is released, causing the laterally bent ends I9 of the pins I'I to re-engage the ratchet-like teeth I6 of the stud I5, thus preventing the upper half of the stopper from expanding or returning to its normal condition as a result of the inherent resiliency of its walls. However, when it is desired to remove the stopper or closure, the enlargements I8 are again pressed inwardly, so that the ends I9 will disengage the teeth IS. This operation results in the release of the stud I5 and the consequent expansion of the upper half of the body to its normal form, reducing internal iiuid pressures as a result of the increase in volume of the chamber 24, and permitting the stopper to be readily removed from the receptable outlet 9.

A stopper formed in accordance with the present invention is particularly useful in closing the outlets of thermally insulated liquid receptacles, or as a removable stopper for bottles containing gas-charged liquids. The seal produced by the closure is unusually firm and highly effective in preventing the ingress or escape of fluids into and from the liquid-holding chamber of an associated receptacle. The metallic parts of the stopper or closure are fully encased and do not contact the receptacle fluids.

I claim:

l. A removable closure for the outlets of fluidcontaining receptacles, comprising an interiorly hollow body composed of a resilient flexible pressure-deformable material, said body including a lower portion adapted for insertion in the outlet of an associated receptacle, and an upper actuat ing portion adapted to be disposed exteriorly of said receptacle, the hollow interior of said body defining a closed chamber, a compressible uid occupying said chamber, the upper actuating portion of said body being responsive to externally applied inwardly directed forces to assume a deformed condition decreasing the volumetric capacity of the chamber and increasing the pressure of the fluid contained therein, a retaining member carried by the upper portion of said body and disposed within the interior thereof, and releasable means for holding said member upon deformation of the upper actuating portion of said body to restrain the latter against return movement.

2. A closure for the outlets of fluid-containing receptacles, comprising a body having upper and lower portions formed from a relatively flexible resilient and pressure deformable material, said body being provided with a closed internal chamber, a compressible gas permanently conned in said chamber, the lower portion of said body being adapted for insertion in the outlet of an associated receptacle, and the upper portion of said body being formed with a localized freely flexible and deformable region, a toothed member secured to the localized freely flexible and deformable region of said body and extending into said chamber, and a fastening element carried by a less iiexible portion of said body and cooperative with said toothed member to restrain the same against movement when the upper portion of said body is depressed to decrease the volumetric capacity of said chamber.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a removable closure for the outlets of Huid-containing receptacles, comprising an interiorly hollow body formed with upper and lower portions having outer walls of relatively resilient pressure-deformable material, said walls defining a closed internal chamber, a compressible iiuid permanently confined within said chamber, the lowei` portion of said body being adapted for insertion in the outlet of an associated receptacle and the upper portion of said body being disposed above said outlet and accessible exteriorly of said receptacle, said upper portion being provided with a localized region freely deformable in response to finger pressure in order to diminish the internal volumetric capacity of said chamber and thereby increase the pressure exerted by said fluid on said outer walls, a toothed member carried by the localized deformable upper region of said body and disposed interiorly of the latter, and a plurality of fastening pins carried by less readily deformable portions of said body and disposed within said chamber for engagement with the toothed surfaces of said member to hold the latter against movement upon depressing of the said freely deformable region of the body.

l. A removable closure for the outlets of iiuidcontaining receptacles, comprising an interiorly hollow body having upper and lower portions composed of an inherently resilient pressure deformable material, said body having iiexible outer walls and an internal hermetically sealed chamber, a compressible fluid within said chamber, the lower portion of said body being adapted for insertion in the outlet of an associated receptacle and the upper portion thereof being formed with a local freely flexible and deformable region, a toothed member secured to the deformable region of said body and extending into said chamber, pins carried by the upper portion of said body having laterally bent inner ends normally engaged with said toothed member, and a guide plate stationarily positioned in said chamber and cooperative with said pins to maintain the same in denite sliding relationship with said toothed member.

5. A removable bottle closure for a fluid receptacle having an outlet, comprising a substantially hollow body formed with upper, lower and intermediate portions composed of resilient material, said body being formed with a closed internally located gas-retaining chamber, a body of gas sealed in Vsaid chamber, the lower portion of said body being formed for insertion in an outlet of an associated fluid-containing receptacle, deformation of the upper portion of said closure serving to cause reduction in the volumetric capacity of said chamber to thereby increase the pressure of the gas contained therein and cause the outer walls of the lower 6 portion of said closure to be forced into sealing Contact with wall surfaces of the receptacle outlet, and releasable means disposed internally of said body operative to retain the upper portion of the latter in its deformed state. i

ARTHUR L. SCOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 288,603 Von Schlieffen Nov. 13, 1888 343,646 Morehouse June 15, 1886 586,038 Hope July 6, 1897 

